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Deciding on a Career

You may already have a clear idea of where you see yourself in the future, or you are still exploring your options. Some people map out their career paths early on, while others take a more flexible approach and adapt to opportunities as they arise.  Either approach can work well. What matters most is being informed about your options and seeking support when you need it.  To help you discover your options, here are some tools and resources to guide your career planning and decision making. 

To chat through your ideas or for help getting started, you can also book a 1:1 careers guidance appointment. Click here for more information. 

  • Self-Assessment Tools - Recognising Your Strengths, Skills & Interests

    Before you decide on a career, it’s a good idea to start with some self-assessment. Do you know what you are good at, what skills you like using and where your areas of interest lie? Knowing your strengths, passions and motivations allows you to choose a career path that not only aligns with your natural abilities and interests but increases the likelihood of job satisfaction and success. 

    Here are some self-assessment tools to help you get started:  

    Career Planner | What job should I do? | Prospects.ac.uk 

    Home | Discover your skills and careers | National Careers Service 

    Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?   

    Free Personality Test | 16Personalities 

    My Career Enriched

    Take an employability skills assessment to identify your personal skills profile, strengths and competency levels and set yourself development goals. 

    University of Cumbria: The Discovery Tool

    This tool can help you assess your digital experience and skills. You then receive a personal report along with a resource bank of advice and activities to draw upon to develop your skills and your answers and report are completely anonymous and personal to you.

    Find out more or get started:  The Discovery Tool

     

     

  • What Will Be Important To You In A Career?

    What will be important to you in a career, A person surrounded by arrows

    Another essential part of career planning is to reflect on what will be important to you in a career and think about what will give you satisfaction and fulfilment. You can then choose a career that is aligned to your principles and aspirations. Here are some articles and resources to help you identify your career values: 

    Career Values: How To Identify Yours and Cultivate Success as a Professional | Indeed.com 

    What are work values?  

    80,000 Hours: Resources to help you find a fulfilling career that makes a positive impact.

  • Explore Job Sectors

    Social Work and Psychology are dynamic and impactful fields that offer a wide range of career opportunities in the UK. While many roles are directly related to your degree, a large number of graduate jobs are open to all disciplines—so your options may be broader than you think. The resources below will help you explore your career possibilities. 

    • Prospects Job Profiles 
      Browse career options by sector or alphabetically to find roles that match your interests and skills. 
    • Career Discovery Channel on My Career Enriched 
      Explore articles, videos, and job descriptions tailored to your areas of interest in mental health, social care, and beyond. 
    • Discover Opportunities on Pathways 
      A short, structured mini-course that guides you step-by-step through the career exploration process. 
    • Gradsims 
      Free, graduate-led videos that help you explore careers aligned with your values and interests. Learn from recent graduates and try simulated real-life tasks in areas like counselling, community work, and mental health services. 
    • Community Care Jobs 
      A dedicated platform for careers in social work, mental health, and care services, offering job listings and career advice. 

  • Self-Employment

    If you're studying social work or psychology, self-employment can be a meaningful way to apply your skills in helping others while shaping your own career path. Many graduates in these fields go on to work independently as therapists, counsellors, or coaches (following the appropriate qualifications and accreditations). Others develop services or initiatives that support mental health, wellbeing, or social inclusion—such as community programmes, advocacy work, or digital health resources. Your ability to understand human behaviour, build trust, and work ethically is highly valuable in freelance and entrepreneurial roles focused on care, change, and empowerment. 

    Have a look at our Enterprise and Self-employment section here

     

     

     

  • The Psychology of Career Choices: What the Experts Say?

    Not all careers follow a straight path. While some students have a clear career goal from day one, some discover their path through unexpected opportunities or chance encounters. This is where Happenstance Theory comes in. Developed by career theorist John Krumboltz, Happenstance Theory suggests that unplanned events can play a major role in shaping your career. Rather than trying to control every step, it encourages you to: 

    • Stay open to new experiences 
    • Take action even when the outcome is uncertain 
    • Learn from every opportunity—even setbacks 
    • Be curious and proactive 

    Find out more about Happenstance theory and how this approach may be relevant for you go to: Embracing Happenstance: How Serendipity Shapes Our Careers – Career and Life Design 

     

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